Detachable Envelopement Type Exerciser

ABSTRACT

An exerciser includes a support ( 46 ) having an outer periphery ( 50 ). A mat ( 12 ) includes inner and outer faces ( 16, 18 ) and first and second sides ( 26, 28 ) spaced in a length direction and extending between the inner and outer faces ( 16, 18 ). A plurality of spaced protrusions ( 20 ) is formed on the outer face ( 18 ) of the mat ( 12 ), with a gap ( 22 ) formed between two adjacent protrusions ( 20 ). The mat ( 12 ) is detachably wrapped around the outer periphery ( 50 ) of the support ( 46 ), and the first side ( 26 ) of the mat ( 12 ) is releasably engaged with the second side ( 28 ) of the mat ( 12 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detachable envelopment type exerciserand, more particularly, to an exerciser including a mat that canenvelope a support to form the exerciser or be used independently.

A wide variety of exercisers for various exercises is available in themarket. One of the exercisers is in the form of a rod formed of ethyleneor ethylene vinyl acetate. The rod can be placed between the body of auser and the floor so that the user can lie on the rod and changepostures to obtain exercising effect. The rod is generally solid toprovide sufficient strength. Furthermore, the rod generally includesrecessed patterns to provide a ventilation effect, avoiding the userfrom sweating due to heat. In another option, the rod includes a hollowtube and a foamed layer integrally formed on an outer periphery of thetube as a single, monolithic piece. However, both of the solid rod andhollow rod can perform only one function.

Thus, a need exists for a novel exerciser that provides additionalfunctions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need and other problems in the field of rod-like exercisers aresolved by providing an exerciser including a support having an outerperiphery. A mat includes inner and outer faces and first and secondsides spaced in a length direction and extending between the inner andouter faces. A plurality of spaced protrusions is formed on the outerface of the mat, with a gap formed between two adjacent protrusions. Themat is detachably wrapped around the outer periphery of the support, andthe first side of the mat is releasably engaged with the second side ofthe mat.

In a form shown, the plurality of protrusions is disposed on the firstside and spreads towards but spaced from the second side of the mat,forming an engagement area at the second side of the mat. One of theprotrusions located at the first side of the mat includes a plurality ofprotrusion sections. A space is formed between two adjacent protrusionsections. A first engagement member is mounted in each of the spaces. Aplurality of second engagement members is provided on the engagementarea. When the mat is wrapped around the outer periphery of the support,each first engagement member is releasably engaged with one of theplurality of second engagement members. A reinforcing layer is bonded tothe inner face of the mat, preventing damage of the mat at the gaps.When the mat is wrapped around the outer periphery of the support, thereinforcing layer abuts the outer periphery of the support.

Illustrative embodiments will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of an exerciser according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the exerciser after assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the exerciser of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the exerciser of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the exerciser.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view showing another example of use of theexerciser.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a mat of the exerciser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating use of the mat.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another use of the mat.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an exerciser of a modifiedembodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a mat of the exerciser of FIG. 10.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachingsonly; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position,relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the illustrativeembodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the artafter the following teachings have been read and understood. Further,the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specificforce, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise bewithin the skill of the art after the following teachings have been readand understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms“first”, “second”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, “section”,“longitudinal”, “length”, “height”, and similar terms are used herein,it should be understood that these terms have reference only to thestructure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewingthe drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing theillustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A detachable envelopment type exerciser is shown in the drawings andgenerally designated 10. According to the form shown, exerciser 10includes a support 46 made of ethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate.Support 46 can be of any desired form as conventional including but notlimited to of a commercially available type. According to the formshown, support 46 includes circular cross sections and has two end faces48 spaced along a longitudinal direction and an outer periphery 50extending between end faces 48. Nevertheless, support 46 can be made ofnon-foam material. As an example, support 46 can be a cylinder made ofplastic. Furthermore, support 46 can have cross sections other thancircular. As an example, support 46 can have rectangular, polygonal, orcurved cross sections.

According to the form shown, exerciser 10 further includes a mat 12 inthe form of a soft cushion 14 made of ethylene or ethylene vinylacetate. Nevertheless, mat 12 can be made of other materials, such assilicon rubber or rubber. Mat 12 includes inner and outer faces 16 and18 and first and second sides 26 and 28 spaced in a length direction andextending between inner and outer faces 16 and 18. A plurality of spacedprotrusions 20 is formed on outer face 18 of mat 12. Each protrusion 20extends from outer face 18 of mat 12 in a height direction perpendicularto the length direction. A gap 22 is formed between two adjacentprotrusions 20. Protrusions 20 are disposed on first side 26 and spreadtowards but spaced from second side 28 of mat 12, forming an engagementarea 30 at second side 28 of mat 12. One of protrusions 20 located atfirst side 26 of mat 12 includes a plurality of protrusion sections 20A,with a space 32 formed between two adjacent protrusion sections 20A. Areinforcing layer 24 is bonded to inner face 16 of the mat 12. A firstengagement member 34 is mounted in each of the spaces 32. Each firstengagement member 34 includes a fixing element 36 fixed to outer face 18of mat 12. Each fixing element 36 includes a tab 36A extending throughmat 12 and reinforcing layer 24. A female coupler 38 is fixed to eachtab 36A, with reinforcing layer 24 sandwiched between female coupler 38and cushion 14 (FIG. 4). A plurality of second engagement members 40 isprovided on engagement area 30. Each second engagement member 40includes a fixing member 42 fixed to reinforcing layer 24. Each fixingmember 42 includes a tab 42A extending through reinforcing layer 24 andcushion 14. A male coupler 44 is fixed to each tab 42A, with cushion 14sandwiched between reinforcing layer 24 and male coupler 44 (FIG. 4).

Mat 12 can be detachably wrapped around outer periphery 50 of support46. Specifically, mat 12 can be bent to wrap around support 46, withreinforcing layer 24 abutting outer periphery 50 of support 46, and withmat 12 located between end faces 48 of support 46 (FIG. 2). First side26 of mat 12 overlaps second side 28 of mat 12. Female coupler 38 ofeach first engagement member 34 is releasably engaged with male coupler44 of one of second engagement members 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

In use, exerciser 10 is placed between a body of a user and a floor orthe ground to support the user. In an example shown in FIG. 5, the usercan lie against exerciser 10 which is located between the hips and thefloor or ground, with two hands of the user placed on the floor orground, with the body inclined upward, with one leg straightened, andwith the other leg bent. In another example shown in FIG. 6, the userlies against exerciser 10 which is between one of her thighs and thefloor or ground, with one hand on the floor or ground, with the otherhand on the waist, with the legs crossed, with one of the legs on thefloor or ground to keep balance. Protrusions 20 of mat 12 provide theuser with a massage effect. At the same time, gaps 22 betweenprotrusions 20 allow air to flow between the body of the user and mat 12and, thus, provide a ventilation effect. However, protrusions 20 canhave other arrangements and shapes. As an example, protrusions 20 can bespaced semi-spheres. Furthermore, gaps 22 can be larger whileprotrusions 20 have reduced volumes to enhance the massage effect ofrespective protrusions 20.

In addition to use with support 46, mat 12 can be used independently.Specifically, after disengaging first engagement members 34 from secondengagement members 40, mat 12 can be removed from support 46 and can beused as a cushion. The user can sit on mat 12 to meditate (FIG. 8) or dosit-ups with mat 12 located between the hips of the user and the ground(FIG. 9).

The shape and arrangement of protrusions 20 can be varied according toneeds. FIGS. 10 and 11 show another example of exerciser 10 in whichprotrusions 20 on mat 12 are either parallelepipeds or ellipsoids toprovide different massage effects.

Due to provision of protrusions 20 and gap 22 on mat 12, the clothes orskin of the user can not fill the gaps 22 when the user lies against mat12, providing enhanced ventilation effect. Furthermore, protrusions 20provide a massage effect when come in contact with the body of the user.Further, mat 12 can be used independently as a cushion or wrapped aroundsupport 46 to form exerciser 10, providing different functions.

Now that the basic teachings have been explained, many extensions andvariations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. Forexample, mat 12 can have a length smaller than the longitudinal lengthof support 46, such that mat 12 can be wrapped around an intermediatesection of support 46, with two ends of support 46 located outside ofmat 12. In addition to wrap around support 46, a plurality of mats 12can be engaged together to form a long cushion for yoga, with firstengagement members 34 on first side 26 of one of mats 12 engaged withsecond engagement members 40 on second side 28 of another mat 12.Further, first and second engagement members 34 and 40 can be in theforms other than male and female couplers. As an example, first andsecond engagement members 34 and 40 can be hook and loop fasteners.Further, mat 12 does not have to include reinforcing layer 24 accordingto needs.

Thus since the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein may be embodiedin other specific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by theappended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. An exerciser comprising, in combination: a support including an outerperiphery; and a mat including inner and outer faces and first andsecond sides spaced in a length direction and extending between theinner and outer faces, with a plurality of spaced protrusions formed onthe outer face of the mat, with a gap formed between two adjacentprotrusions, with the mat detachably wrapped around the outer peripheryof the support, wherein with the mat wrapped around the outer peripheryof the support, the first side of the mat is releasably engaged with thesecond side of the mat.
 2. The safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1,with the plurality of protrusions disposed on the first side andspreading towards but spaced from the second side of the mat, forming anengagement area at the second side of the mat, with one of the pluralityof protrusions located at the first side of the mat including aplurality of protrusion sections, with a space formed between twoadjacent protrusion sections, with a first engagement member mounted ineach of the spaces, with a plurality of second engagement membersprovided on the engagement area, wherein with the mat wrapped around theouter periphery of the support, each of the first engagement members isreleasably engaged with one of the plurality of second engagementmembers.
 3. The safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with the matfurther including a reinforcing layer bonded to the inner face of themat, preventing damage of the mat at the gaps, wherein with the matwrapped around the outer periphery of the support, the reinforcing layerabuts the outer periphery of the support.